Who is the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition?

Our mission is to reverse the trend of mass incarceration in Colorado. We are a coalition of nearly 7,000 individual members and over 100 faith and community organizations who have united to stop perpetual prison expansion in Colorado through policy and sentence reform.

Our chief areas of interest include drug policy reform, women in prison, racial injustice, the impact of incarceration on children and families, the problems associated with re-entry and stopping the practice of using private prisons in our state.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

A sheriff's deputy and a police officer are facing charges in two unrelated incidents, the Denver district attorney's office announced Tuesday.

Deputy Daniel Steckman, 34, has been charged with one count of third-degree assault, a misdemeanor. He was served a criminal summons and complaint on Sept. 5, and he is scheduled to appear in Denver County Court on Oct. 7.

At 1 p.m. May 29, Steckman allegedly assaulted an arrestee during the intake process at the Denver City Jail. It was not known Tuesday who the victim was.

If convicted, Steckman could face six to 18 months in jail.

Steckman has been placed on administrative assignment — essentially a desk job — since the incident, according to Capt. Frank Gale with the Denver sheriff's office.

"He does not have any interactions with inmates," said Gale.

In another case, a Denver police officer was charged in connection with a serious on-duty car crash in June.